In its efforts to strengthen the pillars of the nation's democracy, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) will hold Presidential, Vice-Presidential debates and Evening Encounters with selected candidates between September and November this year.

In line with that, the IEA will organise two Presidential debates in Kumasi and Accra respectively; one Vice-Presidential debate for selected candidates and one Presidential Evening Encounter, all in Accra.

The Evening Encounters will be held in September while the Presidential debates will be held in October and November.

A Fellow of the IEA and former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, who announced this at the launch of the Institute’s 2024 Election Activities in Accra yesterday, said the exact dates, times and venues would be announced later after the IEA concludes its engagements with the various candidates and their respective political parties.

Flanked by the Director of Research of the Institute, Dr John Kwakye, and a Senior Fellow, Dr Alberta Hagan, Justice Akuffo, stated that a Presidential Debates Committee (PDC) had been constituted and expected to be inaugurated next week to determine the ground rules that would govern the debates, encounters and to solicit questions from Ghanaians.

“The IEA will hold two Presidential Debates respectively in Kumasi and Accra for Flag bearers selected based on electoral criteria to be set and announced by the Institute.

“While answering questions pooled from the entire country, the Presidential candidates will have the opportunity to articulate their policies and programmes for the nation,” Ms Akuffo revealed.

Evening Encounter

On the Evening Encounter, she said one each would be organised for selected Presidential candidates, adding that unlike the debates where candidates respond to anonymous questions from anonymous Ghanaians, the Evening Encounters would be in a Town-Hall-like format which would require the candidates to respond directly to questions fielded in-person by representatives of key stakeholder groups.

Objectives

She said the debate series by the IEA were to provide a unique platform for Presidential candidates to outline their policies and vision of governance for the nation as well as to inform citizens to make informed decisions at the elections.

She said the debates would also promote issue-based electioneering campaigns devoid of personal attacks and rancour as well as promote peace before, during and after the elections.

Ms Akuffo stated that although the Vice-Presidential debates were as important as the Presidential debates, they were important because, the nation's Constitution mandated that the Vice-President assumed the role of President when the latter was unable to perform the functions of that office.

 “Vice-Presidential aspirants, therefore, have to demonstrate adequate presidential qualities, skills and competence" she stressed.

Uninterrupted Constitutional rule

She said the debates would help defuse political tension, adding that “the success of the 2024 elections will mark 32 years of uninterrupted Constitutional rule in Ghana and this will be another milestone in consolidating our democracy.”

Furthermore, the former Chief Justice expressed the IEA's commitment to provide a neutral platform for the healthy contest of ideas in line with its belief that those who wish to govern must subject themselves to probing questions by the electorate. 

The IEA has since 2000 organised Presidential debates ahead of every election, except 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.